"Their heroism is a foundation of American military glory" (214). Often in the midst of a great war with opposing sides, the human beings fighting the war are counted only as statistics in a great war of ideas or principles. However in the article "beyond the call of Duty" the human side of the Civil War is examined more closely. Here are ordinary men forced into an extraordinary situation; to play out the greatest war that America has ever been through. The Civil War pitted the Southern lifestyle with its slaves and plantations against the more liberal north with its industry and abolitionists. The War would determine whether the United States of America would remain united and if slavery would be allowed in the nation that proclaimed that every man has the right to equality under the law. The Civil War became a battle of clashing ideals. However, the struggle pitted brother against brother and friend against friend. Whole households were divided over the blue or the gray. These very ordinary men had stories and struggles of their own but they all had one thing in common; they all were willing to fight, kill, and die for their country. One commander gave a pre-battle pep speech. He had planned the speech to be long and moving. However when he saw his troops and the fury of action in their determined looks he simply said, "Thirteenth New Hampshire! You love your country, you are brave men, and you came out here to fight for her! Now go in! Forward!" (215). Honor and bravery became the most important quality in a man. David Beem of the 14th Indiana confided to his wife in May 1861: "If I was to turn back now, many would say I was a coward. I would rather be shot at once then to have such a stigma rest on me" (217). Each man had to be brave enough to face the real possibility of death. To be able before every battle to pin a piece of paper with your name and company on your uniform for easier identification of your body when you were dead takes more courage then an ordinary man would have to have.